Weighing and package-filling machine.



No. 633,253. Patented Sept [9, I899.

a. w WATSON.

WElGHlNG AND PACKAGE FlLLlNG MACHINE.

(Appliclxinn filed June 30, 1897.)

( No Model.) 10 shun-sheet I.

W/ 71/555551 1 15 i VE/V 7475 m: Noam PETERS co v Puoro-umu. WASHINGTON,01c

No"; 633,253'. Patented Sept. l9, I899. G. W. WATSON.

WEIG'HING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Applicltion filed June 30, 1897.) (No Model) I!) Sheets-Sheet 2 1n:mmms PETERS co. worouwou wnsuinn'rou, 0. c4

No. 633,253. Patented Sept. l9, I899.

a. w. WATSON.

WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Afiplication filed-June 30, 1897 (No Model.) l0 Sheets$heet 3.

Patented Sept. !9, I899.

N 0 s T A W W G 0m 5 1 3 3 6 0 N WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30. 1897.) (No Model.) ID Sheets-Sheet 4 we mumsPETERS co, WOTO-LITHQ, wAsumoYom n. c.

No. 633,253. Patented Sept. l9, I399. G. W. WATSON.

WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30, 1897.) {No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 5.

n4: NORNS PETERS co. PNOTG-LIYHQ, WASHINGTON, n. cy

No. 633,253. Patented Sept. l9, I899. a. w. WATSON.

WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30, 1897.) (No Modei.) l0 Sheets-Sheet 6,

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M9 X $4 72; V 04131334333lIlllll||lllllllllflmflllllllllllilllllllllllll VE/V TUF 1 74 z agPatented Sept. I9, 1899.. G. W. WATSON. WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLINGMACHINE.

(Application filed J une so. 1897.)

(No Model.)

l0 Sheets5heet 7,

\M/ T/\/5 555 H" O VE/V TFF Wa W No. 633,253. Patented Sept. l9, I899.

G. W. WATSON.

WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Appl ication filed June so; 1897.) (No Model.) In Sheets-Sheet 8.

No. 633,253. Patented Sept. l9, I899.

G. W. WATSON.

WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Applic ation filed June 30, 1897.) 6N0 Model.) l0 Shaots8heat 9-.

M T/VEE 555 r' VE/V TURN 'No. 633,253. Paton ted S'ept. l9, I899.

' a. w. WATSON WEIGHING AND PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed uneau, 1397. (No Model.) l0 ShaetsSheet [0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \V. \VATSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELEUFRICSCALE COMPANY, OF KITTERY, MAINE.

WEIGHING AND PACKAGE-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,253, datedSeptember 19, 1899.

A li ation fil d June 30, 1897. Serial No. 642,928. (No modehl To allwhom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. \VATSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inlVeighing and Package-Filling Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part hereof.

My invention is an improvement on the machine shown in the patent to \V.H. Doble and myself, dated March 10,1896, No. 556, 258.

One feature of my invention consists in the novel contact mechanism forthe forward and rear contacts.

Another feature consists in the novel package-carrier and the mechanismfor moving the same.

Another feature consists in a locking device for locking the scale-beamafter a package has'been weighed and until it has been removed.

Another feature consists in an exhaust attachment to conduct away thedust and fine particles which arise during the filling operation.

Another feature consists in a tapper which taps the package during thefilling operation to settle the goods in the package and in certainother features, all of which will be described in the specification andmore particularly pointed out and distinctly defined in the claims atthe close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is perspective view of a machine embodying myinvention with the tapper removed. Fig. 2 is a view of the machine onthe opposite side from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a diagram ofthe circuit and a section through the solenoid. Fig. 4. is an elevation,partly in section and broken away, of the rear of the flange-plate onthe frame to which the hopper is adjustably bolted. Fig. 5 is a detailvertical section through the shell llet and base 115 of the clutch whichcontrols the movement of the package-moving ring, the shell beinglifted, so as to show the pawl with its tee a against the shaft and theheel b in the position in which it will be when the shell and base arelocked together. Fig. 5 is a detail perspec tive of the two pawls 122and 124 and their connecting-pivot 122. Fig. 5 is aplan, partly insection, through the clutch before the two members of the clutch arelocked together. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan through the clutch, showingthe pawl just entered into one of the recesses in the clutch and theclutch about to start. Fig. (l is asectional plan of the same clutchafter a partial rotation and showing the push-rod falling behind thepawl on the cross-head. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the same clutch atthe end of a rotation. Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an endview of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the pawl receding fromthe push-rod as the gate opens. Fig. 11 is a side view of the rearcontact and some of the connecting mechanism, the contact being shownopen. Fig. 12 is a front view of Fig. 1],. Fig. 13 is a plan view of therear contact, the contact being open. Fig. 14 is a side view, partly insection, through the box inclosing the forward contact, showing theforward contact and the rod which actuates the same and the side of thescales, the scales being partly broken away. Fig. l-l is a detail frontview of the forward contact with the movable blade and spring partlybroken away to more clearly show thefixed blades. Fig. 15 isafrontviewof the front contact with section through the box whichincloses the contact and showing also some of the connecting mechanism.Fig. 16 is a plan of one of the baskets for carrying a can or package,represented as being in position for filling under the hopper. Fig. 17

is a perspective view of one form of the tap per. Fig. 18 is a sideviewof the same, partly broken away and showing the connection betweenthe trip-lever on the ring and the tapper. Fig. 19 is a detail viewshowing the trip-lever on the bot-tom of the ring tripped by pins on themoving ring and used to release the tapper and make ready for a newoperation. Fig. 20s a perspective view of a modified form of tapper.Fig. 21 is a detail side view of the modified form of tapper shown inFig. 20. Fig. 22 is a detail view of the trip-lever for the form oftapper shown in Fig. 20 and similar to the trip-lever shown in Fig. 10,but placed on the opposite side of the pin on the ring. Fig. 23 is adetail showing the adjustment-pin on the ratchet.

G and G are respectively the forward and rear solenoids, H the frame,and S (see Fig. 4) a conventional dynamo to electrify the solenoids. Thecircuit is made from one pole of the dynamo to one pole of the rear orgateopening solenoid G through wire 1 and branch 2, forward contact M,and wire 3. The circuit from the opposite pole of the dynamo to theother pole of the rear solenoid is through wire 4 and branch 5. Thecircuit from one pole of the dynamo to one pole of the forward orgate-closing solenoid G is through wire 1, branch 6, rear contact F, andwire 7. The circuit from the other pole of the dynamo to .the other poleof the solenoid G is through wire 4 and branch 8.

The two cores 0 10 of the solenoids are connected by a union 11. Themain shaft 12 is driven by power through the belt-pulley 13 or in anysuitable way.

The hopper H is adjustable vertically, so that it can be raised orlowered to accommodate packages of different heights above the scale.The hopper H has fixed to its front end a flange-plate 201. The frame Hhas at its rear an upright plate 202, formed with vertically-elongatedslots 203. The hopper H is clamped to the frame-plate 202 by nut-bolts204, which pass through the slots 203 of plate 202 and screw intoflange-plate 201. By loosening the nuts the hopper may be raised orlowered, as desired.

The shaft 14, on which the comb 15 is mounted, moves with the hopper.Power is transmitted from the main driving-shaft 12 to the comb-shaft 14through pinion 18 on the main shaft, intermediate gear-wheel17, andcombshaft gear 10. The intermediate gear 17 is supported on links 10 20,connected with the main shaft and comb-shaft, respectively, so that thegearing will mesh whatever may be the position to which the hopper isadjusted. The clutch 33, here shown as a friction-clutch actuated by thesliding core of the solenoid through the rod 34 and link 35, causes thecomb to revolve or stand still, according as the gate is open or closed.

The gate 21, which controls the outlet of the hopper, is reciprocated bymeans of the side rod 22, pivoted at one end to the crosshead 23,connected with the union 11. The forward end of said rod 22 has thereona rack 24, which engages with the pinion 25 on shaft 26, mounted inbearings 27 2S, fixed to the bottom of the hopper. Said shaft 26 hasalso a pinion 29, which engages with a rack 30 on the gate 21. Thereciprocation of the core of the solenoids actuates the side rod 22, andthereby opens and closes the gates. The side rod 22, being pivoted atits rear end to the "cross-head 23, accommodates itself to the severaladjusted positions of the hopper. The rack 24 is kept in engagement withpinion 25 by means of a hook-finger 31.

Instead of the stationary ilat table of said Patent No. 550,258, onwhich the packages were placed and along which they were moved by bentfingers projecting from the intermittently-moving ring, I now employ arod or tube in the shape of a ring on which are hung traveling carriersor baskets A, which hold the packages, and to give greater steadiness tothe carriers I prefer to employ two of these rings I I, one above theother, which form a two-rail track on which the baskets travel. I employa fixed supporting-ring J, as before, but only one movingring K, which,however, moves intermittently and not constantly, as did gear-ring Kinthe former machine. This intermittently-moving gear-ring carries thepackage-moving fingers and takes the place of both the constantly-movinggear-ring and the intermittingly-moving package-moving ring of theformer machine, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.The fixed rings I I are preferably, for lightness and convenience ofform, made of metal tubing and are supported on brackets 32, fixed tothe standards 13, rising from the base G of the machine. The rings I Iare cut out at the scales, and short sections I I, which are fixed toand form part of the scales, take the place of the scale-pan. Thesesections 1 1. are preferably composed of tubing, like the rings I I, andjust fit into the cut-out portion of said ring, but they tip with thescales.

The carrier or basket A has a horizontal U-shaped portion 30, withupright end portions 37 38. One of these uprights 38 is higher than theother, so as to be engaged by the pins 46 on the moving ring K. Securedto these vertical portions are the crossbars 39 40, having hooks 41, bywhich the basket is hooked onto the rings I I. The baskets are thuseasily put onto the rails and removed therefrom. The baskets also have anarrow U-shaped bottom portion 42, on which the package or can 43 rests,and vertical portions 44', which pass through holes in the lowercross-bar and have forwardlyextending spring-fingers 45, which embracethe can. The cross-bars and hooks are preferably of metal casting, andthe other portions of the basket already described are made of wire. Aspring-seated pin 47 is carried in a boss 48 on'the cross-bar 40, thepin passing loosely through a hole in the boss. \Vhen a package isplaced in the basket, the package pushes back the pin against thepressure of the spring 49, thrusting the pin back and holding it back,so that it engages with the arm 50 to actuate the mechanism which. makesthe forward contact, as will be described hereinafter. If the basketcomes around without any package, the pin will not project far enoughback to engagearm 50, so that no contact will be made unless a packageis in place.

The main scale-beam D is fulcrumed on the knife-edges 51. Orosswisc ofthe rear ends of the forked arms 52 52 of the said main scale-beam isthe knife-edged pivot 533.

Sal d pivot 53 is fast in the forked arm 55, hinged at its lower end tothe link 56. Said pivot 53 connects the two bent arms 57, which have theshort upward projections 58 and the longer bent arms 59. The short lowersection I of the track is mounted on said projections 58, and the shortupper section I is mounted on the arms 59, so as to tipwith the scale,said sections 1 1 as already stated, serving in lieu of a scale-pan. Theauxiliary scale-beam 60 is pivoted in the standard 61.

In order to prevent sparking in the gateclosing contact mechanism, Ihave main and supplemental contact-receivers and main and supplementalcontact-makers, the two sets of contact devices cooperating, so that oneshall break contact in advance of the other. This may be accomplished invarious ways; but the mechanism which I have employed in the machineshown in the drawings is described as follows, (see Fi s. 11 and 12:) Alever 62 is pivoted at 63 to the standard 61. Fixed in the lower end ofsaid lever 62 is a metal knife 6%, of phosphor-bronze or some othersuitable conducting material, insulated from the lever 62. Theinsulation is shown at 65. A flat forked spring 66 is screwed to thestandard 61 at the ends of the fork-arms, being insulated from thestandard, as shown at 261 and 262. The fork-arms spread sulli ciently toavoid contact with the lever 62. The spring 66 may, however, contactwith the blade 64, and does in fact when the contact is broken, as willbe explained hereinafter. Attached to the flat spring 66 near its outerend is a boss 67, in which is held a carbon stick 68, protruding on bothsides of the boss. The socket portion of the contact consists of twoblades 69 70, secured to the frame, but insulated therefrom and fromeach other by insulation 263. These blades 69 70 form a groove recessbetween them, being spaced sufficiently far apart to admit the knife 64by a rubbing contact. It is preferable to have the groove flare slightlyoutward or beveled at the entrance edges. Two carbon-points 71 72 aresecured in holders 73 74: and are insulated from each other, and each isinsulated from the receiving contact-blade of opposite polarity, butneed not be insulated from the blade of the same polarity. Wire 6 of thecircuit is secured by a binding-screw 75 to the plate 76 of one of thereceiving contact-blades 70, and wire 7 is secured by screw 77 to plate78 of the other receiving-blade 69. The carbon-points 71 72 are soadjusted with relation to the cross carbon stick 68 that when thescale-beam is tipped and the notch 79 in the auxiliary scale-beam 60 islifted from engagement with the stud 80 on lever 62 a coilspring 210around the pivot 81 will throw the lever 62 and cause blade 64.- towedge between contact-blades 69 and 70 and make the circuit through theforward solenoid, and at the same time or a little in advance the carbon68 will contact with the carbon-points 71. 72, thus making a two foldconnection. The ad justment of the carbons is such that when the contactis broken by lifting the lever 62 in the manner to be describedhereinafter the contact of the blades will be broken slightly previousto the breaking of the carbon-contact, and the current will pass throughthe carbons for an instant after the metallic contact is broken, thuspreventing sparking across the metallic contact which would otherwiseoccur and soon destroy the eiiiciency of the contacts. The carbons canreadily be replaced when burned out. Before the lever 62 reaches itsfull outward position the blade 64: will strike the flat spring 66 andpush it outward, lifting the carbon 68 and breaking the carbon-contact.

The movable gear-ring K has set into its lower edge a series of rollersor casters 86, on which the gear-ring moves around on the flange 87 ofthe fixed ring. Pivoted on the under side of the fixed ring J is a lever82, which at its outer end carries a roller 83 and at its inner end ispivoted to a rod 84, the lower end of the said rod 8st being pivoted toa boss 85 on the lever 62. The adjustment of rod 84 and lever 82 is suchthat while the rear contact remains broken, as shown in Fig. 11, theroller C3 will allow the fingers 46 to ride over it. \Vhen, however, thesaid contact is closed, the roller 83 will be elevated so as to lie inthe path of the fingers 46, and when one of said fingers strikes theroller 83 it will depress the roller and tip the lever 82, therebylifting rod 8% and tipping lever 62 on its pivot, thus breaking thecontact and pulling the lever 62 back until stud 80 is again engaged bynotch 79, which holds the contact open until the scale-beam is tipped. Acoil-spring 210 around the pivot of lever 82 throws the lever 82 tooperate the contact-lever when the scale-beam tips.

The forward contact mechanism M, which makes the circuit through therear or gateopening solenoid, will now be described. (See especiallyFigs. 14 and 15.) It is preferably inclosed in a box 88 for betterprotection. The construction di'liers somewhat from the rear contactmechanism F. There are two fixed blades 89 90, of conducting material,preferably phosphor-bronze or other good conducting metal, insulatedfrom each other by insulation 271. There is only one fixed carbon 91,and that is electrically connected with one of the fixed blades 89, asby setting them both in a brass plate 92, having insulation 27% and 275.The wire 2 leads from one pole to said fixed blade 8.). The other fixedblade 90 has no carbon. The movable contact-blade 9% is mounted in alever 95, pivoted at 96, being insulated from said lever. A flat spring97, secured on the supporting-pivot 96 and insulated therefrom byinsulation 272 and 273, rests on the back of said blade 94. It carriesat the end a holder 98, within which is a carb01199, electricallyconnected with said spring 97. A wire leads from fixed blade 90 to said[lat spring 97, so that fixed blade 00, flat spring 97, and movablecarbon are all electrically connected. IVh en the movable blade istipped, the circuit is made both by said blade contacting with the twofixed blades and also by the contact of the two carbons, the carbonsbeing employed for the purpose of preventing sparking between the bladeswhen the contact is broken. The movable metal blades in both contactsare preferably of copper. They can be entirely dispensed with and thecarbons alone used; but better results are obtained by using the metalfor the main contact, the carbons being employed to prevent them fromsparking, which would soon render the blades useless.

On the under side of lever 95, at one side of the blade 9%, is a stopprojection 101, which during the time the contact is intended to remainopen, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, rests upon the lever 102 to hold thecontact open. Lever 102 has a shaft 103, which has a crankarm 104:. Aconnecting-rod 105 is pivoted atits upper end to said crank 101, and atits lower end it is pivoted to an arm 100 on shaft 107, mounted inbracket 108, the arm 50, with which the spring-pins 17 engage,beingmounted on the other end of said shaft. I11 Figs. 14: and 15 thespring-pin is represented as having already passed under the arm 50. Inpassing under said arm it tips it up and, act ing through theintermediate mechanism above described, throws back the lever 102 fromunder the stop 101, and a spring 22. throws the lever to make thecontact.

Red 109 is pivoted at its lower end to a boss or arm 110 of the movableknife-blade lever and at its upper end carries a loop 111, through whichpasses the main shaft 12. Carried on the said main shaft 12 at one sideof the loop 111 is a pointed cam 112. Projecting from the upper end ofthe said loop is a roll 113, which extends over the path of the cam 112.\Vhen the contact-lever 05 is down and the contact closed with the bladein its socket, the rod will be in its lowest position, with the roll 113resting in the notch between the points on the cam 112, but as soon asthe main shaft 12 in its rapid revolu tion brings one of the points ofthe cam in contact with the roll 113 said roll will ride up on theinclined back of the cam-point and lift the rod 109 and tip lever 95,thereby immediately breaking the contact and allowing the lever 102 tocome back into position under the step 101, so that when the cam-roll113 rides off the cam-point again it cannot drop into the notch betweenthe points until in the operation of the machine the lever 102 shall bewithdrawn from under the step 101. In the meantime as the shaft 12revolves the cam-points will revolve around under the roll without anyeffect.

The clutch mechanism and connected devices which control the tripping ofthe rear contact and the movement of the packages is shown particularlyin Figs. 5 to 9. The shell of the clutch 11 .1: rests upon the base 115,

which is keyed fast to the shaft by key It may be shrunk on instead ofbeing keyed. The shaft 110 passes through a sleeve 117, which has abracket projection by which it is secured to the frame. Said shaft isformed with a shoulder 2-31, which rests upon the eccentric 1232, andthe eccentric rests on the upper end of the sleeve which supports theshaft. At the lower end of said shaft is a pinion 118, which meshes withthe main gear-ring K and gives to said ring its motion. The upperportion of the clutch 'that is, the shell 114;is mounted loosely onsaidshaft 110, so as to rotate on said shaft while the shaft isstationary and the clutch disengaged. This shell 114- is in constantrotation by means of the bevel-gear110, fixed thereto, which engageswith the bevel-gear on the main shaft 12. On the inside wall of theshell 111 there are a number of recesses 1.21, with which the pawl 122engages at certain times in the operation. The pawl 122 is fixed onpivot 123, which passes loosely through the base 115,. and on the lowerend of said pivot 123 is fixed the pawl 1.24- below the base 115, asshown in Fig. 0. "he pivot .123 is free to turn in the hole in the base115, through which it passes, so that both pawls and pivot will turntogether when either turns. A spring 125 tends to pull and keep the pawl122 in engagement with one of the recesses 121; but said pawl is keptout of engagement while the package is being filled by the lever 130,which engages with pawl 124, and pawl 1.22 remains so disengaged exceptwhen the gear-ring K is to be moved to bring a package to the scales.The disengaged position is shown in Fig. 5. A push-rod 120, having bentend 127, free to move endwise and to partially turn on its axis. A boss120, carried on said rod, engages with a notch in the lever 130, (seeFig. 8,) so that the endwise movement of the rod turns said lever on itspivot. Iivoted to an arm of cross-head n3 is a pawl 131, beveled on itsrear side. This pawl being fixed to the cross-head moves back and forthwith the cross-head according to the movement of the core of thesolenoid. IVhen the gate is open and the cross-head is in its rearmostposition, (see Fig. 5",) the pawl 131 is behind the bent end of rod 120.The pawl 122 is out of engagement with the recess 121 of the shell 114Cand the shell rotates idly without rotating shaft 110 or base 115. Whenthe circuit is made through the forward solenoid and the gate closes,the pawl 131 will move forward against the bent end 127 of said rod 120,pushing the rod forward and tipping up lever 130, thereby disengaging itfrom pawl 124-. \Vhen the pawl 12 i is thus disengaged, spring 125swings pawls 12st and 122 around into the position shown in Fig. 5",with the heel b of pawl 122 engaging in one of the recesses 121 of theshell 114: of the clutch and the toe a engaging shaft 116, thus lockingthe shell and the base together and causing the base 115 and the shaft110, to

which it is fast, to revolve, together with shell 11 1, which, asalready stated, is continuously rotating. They will remain locked androtating together until the pawl 122 is tripped at the end of arevolution, as will be described hereinafter. Fig. 6 shows it half-wayarouu d. The revolution of shaft 116 is communicated through pinion 118to gear-rin g K, which carries the packages. The object of having anumber of recesses 121 in the shell is to insure speedy engagement whenthe proper time arrives. The exact number is immaterial. With only onerecess it will be operative, but not with such rapidity. The gear-ringis so proportioned to the spacing be tween the package-moving fingersthat when the clutch has made a complete revolution a package will bebrought to the scales.

The mechanism for stopping the gear-ring after a package reaches thescales is as follows: An eccentric 132 on shaft 116 is connected withlever 133 by link 134, said lever 133 being mounted on the square end ofrod 126, so that the rocking motion transmitted to lever 133 by theeccentric 132 is communicated to said rod 126. The rod 126 is, however,free to slide in the square hole in the lever 133. The eccentric makesone revolution foreach revolution of the clutch. During the first halfof the revolution the bent end of the rod 126 is being gradually turneddown until the eccentric reaches its extreme position at the end of thehalf-revolution, as shown in Fig. 6, when the bent end swings out farenough to clear the pawl 131. As soon as it becomes thus disengaged thespring 135 pushes the rod 126 back behind pawl 131. During the remainingpart of the revolution the eccentric is returning the rod 126 to itsupright position, as in Figs. 7 and S, which show the clutch at the endof a revolution and the heel b of pawl 122 disengaged from the recess121. As rod 126 receded under the action of spring 135 at the end of ahalf-revolution it brought lever 130 down to its normal position, as inFigs. 7 and 8, ready to intercept pawl 1241: upon the completion of therevolution of the clutch. The interception of the pawl 12% by lever 130turns the pawls 122 and 124 on their axes, thus throwing the heel b ofpawl 122 out of recess 121 and withdrawing the toe Ct from the shaft 116and swinging point 0 against the shaft, as both pawls are fixed on thesame shaft. The shell and base of the clutch are thus disengaged. Themovement of base 115, and thereby that of the shaft 116 and thegear-ring K, is immediately stopped by the point 0 of pawl 122 bearingon the shaft 116. By this time a new package will have reached thescales and the springpin 47, which is pushed back by the package,engages with arm 50, tipping it up and ac tuating the mechanism whichmakes the forward contact, as already described, thus completing thecircuit through the rear solenoid and opening the gate. As thesolenoid-core and cross-head 23 recede the pawl 131, which is now infront of the bent end portion 127 of push-rod 126, being on a pivot andwith its bevel side against the said end 127, will slide back past therod, as shown in Fig. 10. After the pawl 131 has passed the rod it willengage with a stud (not shown) or with the end of the slot in the casing11 or some other suitable device, which throws the pawl back to itsnormal position. The gate now being open and a package on the scales, assoon as the package is filled the scale-beam will drop, the gate-closingcontact will be made, the solenoid and slide-rod .126 will move forward,lever 130 will be tripped, and the clutch and package-moving ring willrevolve again.

Pivoted to the cross-head 23 is a depending rod 136. In the lower end ofsaid rod there is a pin 137, by which the rod is pivoted to arm 138,said arm being pivoted to the post 130. This pin extends crosswise justabove the rear arm of the main scale-beam. When the core of the solenoidslides forward and closes the gate, the rod 136 is brought into its mostupright position, depressing the lower end. The pin 137 bears down onthe rear arm of the scale-beam,tipping up the forward arm and thepackage-supporting portion into its normal position and holding itfirmly in that position as long as the gate remains closed. When thegate opens again, the locking-pin will be lifted. The object of solocking the scales is to hold them steady while the full package isbeing removed and the new empty package is being brought to the scales.As the scales are balanced for a certain weight of package, if thescales are not locked when a full package is partially removed thepressure being reduced the scales would tend to fly up and tip thepackage over. By locking the scales in the way mentioned before thepackage is removed the package will slide 011 on a horizontal line,there being no need to depress the rails on the exit side.

\Vhen very dry goods are being weighed,

and especially during the first rush of goods that follows the openingof the gate, a cloud of line particles floats out into the air unlesssome preventive is used. In order to draw away this dust, I employ thefollowing devices: Attached to the bottom of the hopper II is a chamber141, extending around the frontand sides of the hopper, but notextending under the outlet-opening of the hopper. It projects down asnear the top of the package as possible without interfering with theoperation of the machine. The bottom of the said chamber is covered witha fine wire-gauze 112, and the chamber is otherwise closed except wherethe exhaust-tubes 113 enter. One exhaust-tube or more may be employed.The exhaust-tubes are connected with a blower 1&4, which maintainsconstant suction through the tubes 113 and through the wire-gauze of thechamber 141 to draw off the fine particles of dust.

In order to settle the goods in the package while being filled, I employa tappcr which. the lixcd ring J. \Vheu the gear-ring begins taps thepackage while the goods are running in or during such portion of thetime as is desired. (See Fig. 17 and following.) Shaft 151, having onits end pulley 152, is belted to the intermittently-rotating part of theclutch 33 on the driving-shaft 12. Pivoted on fixed shaft 155, supportedin frame 15 1-, are a series of levers or tappers 155, whose rear endsextend underneath the package on the scales. Fixed on said shaft 151 area series of cams 150, one for each tapper, which as the said shaftrevolves give to the tappers a vertical vibrating motion, causing themto tap the bottom of the package. These cams are preferably arranged sothat the vibrations of the tappers break time with each other. As theshaft 151 is belted to the clutch 33, it will retate only during thetime that the goods are being fed; but it is desirable that the tappingshould cease a little while before the package is full, otherwise theaccuracy of the weight may be disturbed and the contents partly shakenfrom the package. In order to regulate the duration of the tapping, thefollowing devices are employed: Fixed on the shaft- 157 isaratchet-wheel158, said shaft also having fixed thereon a series ofstop-fingers 181, which at the proper time in the revolution of theshaft 157 engage with the downwardlyprojecting arms 173 of the tappersand stop their movement. Mounted on an eccentric 177 on the shaft 151 isthe pawl 159, and pivoted on said shaft is pawl 100, both of which pawlsengage with the ratchet 158. The pawl 159 is on an eccentric for thepurpose of feeding the ratchet, and the other pawl is on the center, soas to prevent the ratchet from slipping when the eccentric-pawl lets go.In the face of the ratchet are a series of holes 101, into one of whichis inserted the pin 102, which is adapted to strike the fixed stop-pin103 when the pawls are tripped in the manner to be described, and thespring 16% turns shaft 157 and ratchet 158 backward. On the rim of theratchet is a smooth portion 105,

which causes the pawl to slip without feeding when in course of itsrotation the smooth place reaches the pawl, and the position of thissmooth place bears such relation to the position of the stops 181 thatthe said steps will always lift the tapper from engagement with the camsat the same time that the smooth place reaches the pawls, so that thetappers and the ratchet may both be made inactive at the same time. Thepawl is tripped by means of one of the package-moving 1in gers on thegear-ring after the gear-ring begins to move, so that the tapper may bein readiness for operation as soon as a new package reaches the scale. Arod 100, pivoted at one end to'the pawl 159, is pivoted at its other endto one arm of lever 107, which is pivoted in a suitable support. Pivotedto the other arm of said lever 107 is rod 108, which at its upper end ispivoted to the trip-lever 109, said lever 109 being pivoted. to a boss1.70 on to move to carry an empty package to the scales, thepackage-moving linger 4L0 engages the upper arm of lever 109 and tips iton its pivot, thereby acting through rod 108, lever 107, and rod 100 totrip the pawls 159 and 100, allowing spring 101- to rotate backward theshaft 157 and ratchet 158 until the pin 102 strikes against stop-pin 103and brings it to a rest. As soon as the finger 4-0 has passed the lever1'09 the spring 171 pulls the pawls back into engagement with theratchet 158. A stud 172, projecting from the inner face ofeccentric-pawl 159 in front of pawl 100, causes the two pawls to movetogether. It will be seen that inasmuch as the spring 104 pulls ratchet158 around until the pins 102 and 105 engage each other the amount ofthrow depends upon the position of pin 102 in the ratchet, and thefarther the throw the longer it will take the pawls to bring the smoothportion 105 around to the pawls and to bring the stop-levers 181 aroundto engage with the tappers. The pin 102 is therefore set in the properhole in the ratchet, depending upon the duration of time it is desiredthat the tappers shall work according as the size of the package andrapidity of feed vary.

In the modified form of tapper shown in Figs. 20,21,and 22 the tappersare thrown up to tap the packages by means of springs and are pulledback by means of cams instead of being lifted by cams and brought backby gravity, as in the form shown inv Figs. 17, 18, and 19. In this casethe driving-shaft 151 should be made to rotate in the opposite directionfrom that of Fig. 17, which may be done by the method of making the beltconnections between pulley 138 and the pulley on the main driving-shaft12. The belt and pulley 138 are shown in Fig. 2. The belt may bestraight or crossed according to the direction of rotation desired. Theconstruction of pawls 159 and 100 and ratchet 158 and stop-pins 102 1.03is the same in both forms, also the tripping devices except as to thetime of tripping,which will be explained hereinafter. The tappers 1741-are likewise pivoted on shaft 153. The tapping-levers have arms 175,with which springs are connected, the springs tending to pull down thearms and throw up the tappers against the package. On the under side ofthe said arms are projections 178, with which cams 179, carried on theshaft 151, engage. These cams hold the tappers down until thepoint ofthe cam rides past the said projection 178, when the spring 1.70 becomeseffective to throw up the tappers. Since the tappers in this modifiedform become active as soon as the pawls aretripped, and as it is notdesirable to have the tappers active until a package reaches the scales,it is preferable to so locate the trip-lever 109 that thepackage-movingfinger will not trip it until just before the packagereaches the scales, whereas in the form shown in Fig. 17 the tappersbeingliftcd by the cams would not become active and package-carrier inplace on the rails and an empty package or can placed in that carrierwhich next in turn will reach the scales, the package pushing back thespringseated pin 47 and both contacts F and M being open. Thepackagemoving ring K is set in rotation by pushing the rod 126 (see Fig.8) so as to disengage the stop-lever and allow the clutch 114115 tobecome effective. The clutch makes one complete rotation and is thendisengaged, as already described, the packagecarrier by that time havingreached its central position on the sealesection of the track. Justbefore the carrier reaches the middle of the scale-section of the trackthe spring-seated pin 4:7 trips the arm 50, thereby tripping thecontact-lever 95 of the forward contact-that is, the gate-openingcontact M. This makes the circuit through the gate-opening solenoid G.The cores of the solenoids and the crosshead 23 move to the rear, thusopening the gate. The clutch brings the comb 15 into operation and thegoods are fed into the package. Instantly after the contact is made andthe gate is opened the cam 112 in its rapid rotation with the shaft 12will engage with roll 113 and lift rod 109, tripping up contactlever 95and breaking the contact, and both contacts are now open again. In themeantime also as the carrier approached the scales the finger 46 trippedthe arm 169, which controls the tapper, and released the pawls 159 and160 from the ratchet 162, allowing the spring 164 to rotate shaft 157backward until the stop-pin 162 on the ratchet 158 strikes the fixedstop-pin 163. The tappers are set in operation by the cams 156 on therotating shaft 151. At each revolution of the shaft 151 the ratchet isfedforward one notch and the tappers willcontinuein operation until thepawls reach the smooth place 165. By that time also the st.opfingers 181will have engaged the backs of the downwardly-projecting arms 173 of thetapping-levers and will lift up the tapping-arms out of engagement withthe cams 156, so that the tapping will cease, and although the shaft 151continues to revolve the tappers and the ratchet are held at rest untilthe pawls 159 and 160 are tripped by another movement of thepackage-moving ring. When the package contains the required weight ofgoods, the scale-beam tips, tripping the contact-lever 62 of the rear orgate-closing contact Fand making the circuit, so that the gate closes.As the cross-head shoots forward the connecting-rod 136 of thescale-locking device is brought into its more upright position, forcingdown the rear arm of the scale-beam and raising again the forward arm toits normal position and holding the scale-beam thus locked untilreleased by the reverse movement of the solenoid in opening the gate.The comb-shaft is also at rest while the gate is closed by reason of thedisengagement of the clutch 3 Also as the cross-head 23 moves forward inclosing the gate, as just described, the pawl 131 engages push-rod 126and pushes it forward again, causing the clutch 111 115 to again becomeeffective to set the package-moving ring K in motion. When thegate-closing contactlever 62 was tripped to make the contact by thetipping of the scales, the lever 82 was tipped, so that the roll 83 waslifted up into the path of the pins t6. Vhen now the package-moving ringK begins to move, as just above stated, one of the pins +16 will engagewith the roll 83, thereby depressing it and lifting the contact-lever62, so that both circuits are again open. The gate-opening contact isagain made and the package-moving ring brought to a rest with a packageon the scales, and the operation is continued as before.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In an electric circuit, a double contactmechanism,the main contact mechanism comprising a fixed receivingcontact-piece and a movable contact maker, the latter being mounted on apivoted lever, the supplemental contact mechanism comprising a fixedreceiving contact-piece and a movable contactmaker, said movablecontact-maker being mounted on a spring which holds it in con tact withits fixed contact-piece while the main contact mechanism remains closed,and until after it is broken, the parts being so adjusted that when thesaid lever is lifted it will break the main contact and will engage thespring and lift the supplemental contact after the main contact isbroken, substantially as described.

In an electric circuit, a double contact mechanism each comprising twofixed terminals and a movable contact-piece, a pivoted lever on whichthe main movable contacts maker is mounted and insulated therefrom, aspring fast at one end and having a free end on which the insulatedsupplemental contact-maker is mounted, said spring holding thesupplemental contact closed while the main contact remains closed, andmechanism which tips the lever and first breaks the main contact, thelever then engaging with said' spring and breaking the supplementalcontact, substantially as described.

In an electric circuit, a double contact mechanism,the main contactmechanism comprising two fixed terminals, a pivoted lever and aninsulated contact-piece mounted on said lever, the supplemental contactmechan ism comprising two carbon terminals, a flexible spring-arm havingone end fast to a support and having the other end free, a carboncontact-piece mounted on the free end of said spring, said springnormally holding the said supplemental contact-piece in contact with thesupplen'iental terminals while the main contact is closed, and mechanismwhich tips the lever and first breaks the main contact, the lever thenengaging with said spring-arm and breaking the supplemental contact,substantially as described.

4. In an electric weighingand package-filling machine, a gate-closingcircuit, a contact mechanism in said circuit mounted on a pivoted leverwhich is actuated by the tipping of the scale-beam to close said circuita retating package-moving ring with fingers projecting therefrom, alifting-lever pivoted to a fixed'support below said rotating ring andconnected with said contact-lever, one arm of said lifting-leverprojecting into the path of said fingers which engage with saidliftinglever to tip the contact-lever and break the contact,substantially as described.

5. In an electric weighing and package-filling machine, a gate-openingcircuit, a contact mechanism in said circuit in which the contact-pieceis mounted on a pivoted lever, a stop carried on said lever which isengaged by a pivoted stop-lever to keep the contact lifted, a rotatingpackage-carrying ring,package-carriers carried by said ring, eachpackage-carrier having a spring-pin which is pushed back by the packagewhen placed on the carrier, a pivoted trip-arm connected by aconnecting-rod with the stop-lever of the contact mechanism andprojecting across the path of said spring-pin in such manner that when apackage reaches the desired place on the scales the spring-pin will tipsaid trip-arm and withdraw the stop-lever from the contact-leverallowing the gate-opening circuit to be closed, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an electric Weighing-machine in which the flow of goods iscontrolled by a gate electrically operated, a contact mechanism forminga part of the circuit, in which the contactpiece is mounted on a pivotedlever, a rotating shaft, a cam on said shaft, a rod pivoted at one endto the contact-lever and having at its other end a projection which atintervals engages with said cam, said rod being pulled down when thecontact-lever is tripped and the contact is made, thereby bringing theprojection on said rod into position where the cam engages with saidprojection and lifts the rod and tips the eontact-lever thereby openingthe circuit, substantially as described.

7. In a weighing and package-filling machine, a package-carrier, meansfor supporting the carrier on a track, and a springseated push-pinmounted in a guide-slot in the rear part of the carrier, said pin beingpushed back and the spring compressed when a package is introduced,substantially as described.

8. In a weighing and package filling machine, an intermittently rotatingpackagemoving ring with a series of fingers projecting therefrom,stationary ri.ngrails and movable package-carrierssupported on saidrails, the carriers being engaged by said fingers and moved around onsaid rails, substantially as described.

9. In a weighing and package-filling machine, in combination with thescales, a scalelocking device, mechanism which controls the feed ofgoods to the scales and shuts off the flow when the scale-beam tips andwhich simultaneously therewith actuates the locking device and locks thescale-beam, said feedcontrolling mechanism unlocking the scales when itopens the feed, substantially as described.

10. In a weighing and package-filling machine in which the flow of goodsis controlled by a gate, in combination with the scales, a lockingdevice which is actuated by the mechanism which actuates the gate sothat when the scale-beam tips and the gate closes, the scale-beam willthen becomelockethand when the gate opens the scale-beam willbecomeunlocked, substantially as described.

11. In a weighing and package-[illi1 1g machine in which the flow ofgoods is controlled by a gate which is opened and closed by areciprocating portion, in combination with the scales, a rod pivoted atone end to said reciprocating portion and connected at its other endwith mechanism which when the reciprocating portion moves in a directionto close the gate engages with the scale-beam to prevent tipping againafter goods are weighed and which is released from engagement when thegate is opened by reciprocation in the reverse direction, substantiallyas described.

12. In a weighing and package-filling machine in combination with ahopper, a slide gate which controls the flow of goods from the hopper, arotatable shaft having a pinion which gears with a rack on said gate,and a reciprocating rod having a rack with which also a pinion on saidshaft engages, substantially as described.

1 In a weighing and package-filling machine, the combination of arotatable ring which moves the packages, a rotatable shaft having apinion which gears with said package-moving ring, a clutch mounted uponsaid shaft one portion of which is fast to said shaft and the otherportion is loose thereon, the loose portion being connected to a drivingshaft, mechanism which when the flow of goods to the package is cut offlocks the two portions of the clutch together thereby giv ing motion tothe package-moving ring for a certain interval of rotation when theclutch becomes unlocked and the clutch-shaft and package-moving ring arestopped, substantially as described.

14. In a weighing and package-filling machine, the combination of arotatable ring which moves the packages, a rotatable shaft having apinion which gears with the package-movin g ring, a clutch mounted uponsaid shaft one portion of which is fast to said shaft and the otherportion is loose thereon, the loose portion being connected to adrivingshaft, an intermittently-reciprocatin g portion which opens andcloses a gate which controls the flow of goods to the package, apush-rod actuated by the gate-closing movement of said reciprocatingportion, and mechanism for locking the two portions of the clutchtogether which becomes operative to so look them when the gate closes;the package-moving ring being rotated thereby through a certain intervalof space, when the clutch becomes unlocked and the clutch shaft andpackage-moving ring are stopped, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a rotatable shaft, a clutch mounted upon saidshaft one portion of which is fast to the shaft and the other portion isloose thereon, the loose portion being connected to a driving-shaft, apawl which at certain periods locks the two portions of the clutchtogether, a stop-lever which holds said locking pawl out of engagementwith the clutch, a push-rod connected with said lever, anintermittently-reciprocating portion which pushes said rod when itslides in one direction, thereby lifting the stop-lever so that the.locking-pawl locks the two portions of the clutch and the clutch andshaft make a revolution, means for retracting the push-rod after theclutch is locked and bringing the stop-lever into position to engage thelocking pawl and disengage the clutch upon the completion of arevolution, and means for then stopping the rotation of theclutch-shaft, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a rotatable shaft, a clutch mounted upon saidshaft, one p ortion of which is fast to the shaft and the other portionis loose thereon, the loose portion being connected to thedriving-shaft, a pawl which at certain periods locks the two portions ofthe clutch together, a stop-lever which holds said locking-pawl out ofengagement with the clutch, a push-rod connected with said lever, anintermittently-reciprocating portion carrying a pawl which engages saidrod and pushes it in one direction to disengage said stop-lever from thelocking-pawl, means for then causing the locking-pawl to lock the twoportions of the clutch together so that the clutch and its shaft revolvetogether, an eccentric on said shaft which turns said pushrod on itsaxis to bring its pawl-engaging arm out of engagement with said pawl, aspring which then retracts the push-rod and brings the stop-lever backinto position to engage the locking-pawl of the clutch at the end of itsrevolution and thereby disengaging the clutch, and means for thenstopping the rotation of the 'clutchshaft-, the push-rod being turned bysaid eccentric in a reverse direction 011 its axis into itsfirst-described position and its engaging pawl being brought behind iton the return movement of the reciprocating portion, substantially asdescribed.

17. In combination with a shaft, a clutch comprising a disk-base fixedon said shaft, a shell loose on said shaft and having recesses in theinner periphery thereof, a pawl which looks the two portions of theclutch together at certain periods, a stop-lever which holds the lockingpawl out of engagement with the clutch at certain other periods, meansfor tripping the stop-lever at certain intervals and a spring which thenbrings the locking-pawl into engagement with the clutch, substantiallyas described.

18. In a weighing and package-filling machine a tapper for tapping thepackages while being filled and means for actuating the tapper, stepmechanism which automatically causes the tapper to cease after apredetermined period of tapping, means for automatically releasing thestop mechanism at a predetermined time in the operation of theweighing-machine and permitting the tapper to again become active, andmeans for adjusting the stop mechanism so that the predetermined periodof tapping may be varied, substantially as described.

19. In a packagefilling machine, a series of pivoted tappers, adriving-shaft and a series of cams 011 said driving-shaft which when thedriving-shaft rotates actuates said tappers so as to break time with oneanother, substantially as described.

20. In a tapper for a weighing and packagefillin g machine, atapping-lever and means for actuating the same, a rotatable shaft onwhich is fixed, a stop adapted to engage with said tapping-lever, aratchet-wheel fixed on said shaft, a driving-shaft, a feed-pawl engagingwith said ratchet and actuated by said driving-shaft, a dead place onsaid ratchet-wheel where the pawl becomes ineffective, means fortripping the pawl before the time for a new operation, means forreturning the rotatable stop-shaft to its starting-point, and an adjustable stop whereby the arc of rotation of the rotatable stop may bevaried, thereby regulating the duration of the tapping, substantially asdescribed.

21. In a weighing and package-filling ma chine, a vertically-adj ustablehopper, a rotatable shaft mounted in said hopper and having a mixerattached thereto, a driving-shaft, pinions on said shafts andintermediate gearing supported on links so that the two shafts will bein gear with each other in the various adjusted positions of the hopper,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 21st day of June, 1897.

GEORGE w. wATson'.

Witnesses:

WM. II. Donna, WlLLIAM A. COPELAND.

IIO

